Safety arc-lamp hanger



(No Modem 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. E. P. SNOWDEN. SAFETY ARG LAMP HANGER.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

Dm ...D .m mA H DP WM 0A NL Nimm P .w EB nr. A s

(No Model.)

No. 558,993. vPatented Apr. 28, 1896.

AHAM. PHU'G-UTMD WASHINGYDN, [7.0.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDVARD P. SNOVDEN, OF S". JOSEPH, MISSOURI.

SAFETY ARC-LAMP HANGER.

SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters Patent N0. 558,993, dated April 28, 1896.

Application filed February 1l, 1896. Serial No. 578,881. (No model.)

.To a/ZZ whom, t may concern.'

Be it known that I, EDWARD P. SNowDEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. J oscph, in the county of Buchanan and State of Missouri, have invented anew and useful Safety Arc-Lamp Hanger, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to safety arc-lamp hangers; and it has for its object to provide a new and useful device of this character for handling electric-arc lamps whereby such lamps may be lowered for trimming with perfeet safety without danger of the current being grounded, and thereby obviating the necessity for using ladders or non-conductors of any kind commonly employed in trimming the ordinary street arc-lamps.

In the accomplishment of these objects the invention contemplates an improved hanging device providing means for entirely cutting the lamp out of the circuit when lowered, and at the same time closing the circuit directly between the line-wire terminals for the lamp, whereby such line-wires are allowed to remain in the air, thereby avoiding the possibility of the line-wires swinging in such close proximity to other wires as to complete a circuit therewith.

To these ends the invention is primarily in the nature of an improvement upon the construction set forth in my former patent, No. 5i2,2l0, dated July 2, 1895.

lVith these and other objects in view, which will readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated, and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of an arc-lamp hanger constructed in accordance with this invention, illustrated as in use, with the electric lamp in a position while being raised or lowered. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section al view with the han ger-table in its elevated position for closing the circuit through the lamp. Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the hanger with the hanger-table removed. Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view on the line i 4 of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a detail in perspective of one of the metallic switch-plug receivers. Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view of a portion of the `hanger-table. Fig. 7 is a detail plan view showing a modified form of spring connection for the switch-lever.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, the numeral l designates a han ger-box open at the bottom and having fitted therein, parallel and adjacent to the outer ends thereof, the inner wooden or other non-conducting end pieces 2, which are rigidly secured in place within the box by any suitable fastening devices. The inner end pieces 2 of the hangerbox have fitted on their outer sides and at their lower edges the hanger-bars 3, provided with opposite perforated ends 4, projected through the sides of the box l near the outer ends thereof, and having connected thereto one end of the supporting-cables 5, which are tightly stretched between the said hangerbars 3 and the supporting-poles 6, arranged at opposite sides of the hanger-box, and with which poles the cables 5 are connected in any suitable manner to provide for firmly supporting the hanger-box in an elevated position between the two poles 6. The hangerbars 3 for the box l are provided intermediate of their ends with the perforated guiding-lugs 7, integrally cast with the hanger-bars, and the function of which guiding-lugs will be hereinafter more particularly referred to.

The oppositely-located inner end pieces 2 of the han ger-box l have securely iitted therebetween a switchboard 8, the opposite ends of which switchboard preferably engage or iit within the grooves 8, formed in the inner sides of the inner end pieces 2, to provide a readily-assembled connection between the switchboard and the inner end pieces of the han ger-box. The switchboard S has secured to one side thereof a pair of spaced vertically-disposed switch-plug receivers 9. The plug-receivers 0 are arranged on the switchboard S, near the opposite ends thereof, and each of said plug-receivers consists of a fixed conductor-bar 10, provided with a longitudinally-concaved side ll, a recessed enlargement l2 at its upper end, and an integral binding-post 13, projected laterally from one side of the bar l0, intermediate of its ends, and extending through an opening in the switchboard, so as to dispose its wire-receiving end 1i at the side of the switchboard opposite to the side on which the conductor-bar is secured by means of the screws l5, passed IOO through perforated ears 16, formed at opposite side edges of the conductor-bar. In connection with the conductor-bar 10, each of the plug-receivers 9 is provided with a leafspring jaw 17, disposed opposite the concaved side of the conductor-bar and detaehably secured at its upper end, as at 18, in the recess of the enlargement 1 2 at the upper end of said conductor-bar, and said leaf-spring jaw 17 is provided with an outturned lower end 1S, which combines with the lower end of the conductor-bar to 'form a 'flared mouth for properly guiding the switch-plug, to be referred to, in position between the conductor-bar and the said spring-jaw.

The wire-receiving ends 14. of the bindingposts 13 .receive the terminals of the line-wire L, which are guided through the insulatortubes 19, Vlitted in openings in the inner and outer end pieces of the hanger-box at a point intermediate of the top and bottom oivsaid box, and the inner ends of said insulatortubes are disposed directly at one side of the said wire-receiving ends 14 of the bindingpost inv order that the line-wire terminals may be readily inserted in through the insulatortubes and secured in the binding-posts 13, whereby the plug-receivers 9 will be included in the circuit of the line-wires. The conductor-bar 19 of one o'i' said plug-receivers 9 is provided near its lower end with an ottstanding bracket-arm 20, to which bracketarm is secured a horizontally-disposed contact-keeper 21, comprising a pair of oppositely-loeated slitted spring-jaws 22, which are designed to snugly receive therebetween the beveled contact end 23 of a swinging switch-lever 24. rlhe swinging switch-lever 24 is pivotally mounted near one end, as at 25, between a pair of pivot-lugs 2G, projected from one side Vof the conductor-bar 10, opposite the bar which carries the contact-keeper 21. The said switch-lever 24 is provided at its extremity, opposite the contact end 23 thereof, with a rounded heel portion 27 ,which normally contacts with the outer side of the spring-jaw 17 of the plug-receiver having the pivotal support for the switch-lever, and said heel portion of the switch-lever is held in the normal position referred to by means of aretractile spring 28, secured at one end, as at 29, to one of the inner end pieces 2 and at its other end to a short ofi'standing adjustingarm 30, projected from one side of the switchlever 24, directly at or opposite its point of pivot, to provide means, through the medium oi said spring, for holding the switch-lever normally in a position with the free contact end thereol held within the contact-keeper 2l, thereby closing the circuit between the two plug-receivers and the separate line-wire terminals connected therewith, so that when the lamp is lowered for trimming the circuit on the main line will remain unbroken,while at the same time it willbe entirely cut out'from the lamp.

Arran ged to work within and below the open forations in the ends of the table 31 and exi tend above the same, so as to slide in and out of the guiding-lugs 7 of the hanger-bars 3. The said tubular guide-rods 3G have secured therein one end of the adjusting-cables 37, which are passed around the guide-prille ys 38, mounted on the outer sides of the inner end pieces 2 near their upper ends, directly above the guiding-lugs 7 of the hanger-bars 3. From the guide-pulleys 38 the adjusting-cables 37 pass through the pulley-housings 39, formed at one top side of the box 1 directly at one side of the guide-pulleys 9S, and said adjusting-cables 37 are suitably connected with the main ad j Listing-rope 49, which is guided in the ordinary manner to a convenient point near the ground, so that the position of the lamp may be readily adjusted from the ground.

The hanger-table 31 carries apairoil spaced switch-plu gs 41, provided with lower threaded posts 42, passed through perfor-ations in the table 3l, and receiving thereon below the table the clamping nuts 43, which provide means for rigidly securing the switch-plugs yto the table in an upright position, and directly above the table the said switch-pll'lgs are provided with the rest-anges 44, which, through the medium of the nuts 43, are clamped tightly onto the table.y The lower extremities of said threaded posts 42 are provided with ordinary binding-screws 45, which provide means for binding to the posts 42 the wire-terminals M for the lamp 34, such wireterminals being entirely independent of the main-line terminals connected with the binding-posts of the plug-receivers within the hanger-box. The upright switch-plugs 41 are partly cylindrical, so as to register snugly in the concaved sides of the conductor-bars 10, and the said plugs are provided with flattened sides 4G, which ride against the inner sides of the spring-jaws 17 of the plug-receivers. At their upper ends the switch-plugs are beveled, as at 47, so as to readily pass in between said spring-jaws 17 and the conductor-bars 10 of each plug-receiver.

Then the hanger-table 3l is in its elevated position and fitting within the open bottom of the hanger-box, the switch-plugs 41 will be disposed within the plug-receivers 9 and will thereby spread the spring-jaws 17 away from the conductor-bars 10. In this position of the parts the spring-jaw 17 at one side of the heel.

TOO

IIO

IIS

portion 27 of the switch -lever will press against such heel portion of the switch-lever and swing the same to a position holding the contact end 23 of the switch-lever out of the contact-keeper 2l, and the circuit of the main line will therefore be completed through the lamp,the switchpl ugs, and the plu g-receivers. lVhcn, however, it is desired to lower the lamp for trimming', the adjusting-cables 37 are slackened, so as to allow the lamp to fall of its own weight, which will lower the hangertablc 3l and withdraw the switch-plugs from the plug-receiver, thereby allowing the sprin gjaws 17 of the plug-receivers to spring toward the conductor-bars l0. At the same time the retractile spring 28 will swing' the switch-lever 24 on its pivot and throw the contact end of the switch-lever into the contact-keeper 2l and thereby switch the current directly through the plug-receivers without breaking the circuit of the main line, and at the same time allowing the lamp to be entirely cut out of the circuit, so that the same may be handled for trimming with perfect safety.

In the raising' and lowering of the hangertable 3l the tubular guide-rods 3G, in conjunction with the guiding-lugs 7, provide simple and positive means for properly guiding' the switch-plugs into position to throw the lamp back into the circuit after the same has been trimmed, as will be readily understood.

Various slight modifications of the hereindescribed arc-lamp hanger may be observed, and in Fig. 7 of the drawings is illustrated a modified form of spring connection for the switch-lever 2l. In this modication the coiled retractile-spring 28 is replaced by a bowed leaf-spring 28, which is secured fast at one end, as at 28h, to the lower end of the con ductor-bar l0, with which the switch-lever has a pivotal connection, and the free end 28C of said leaf-spring 2S bears against one side of the switch-lever 24E and provides for normallyholding the contact end 23 of the switchlever within the contact-keeper 2l.

@ther changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principlc or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is-

l, In a hanger for electric lamps, the hangerboX having an open bottom and oppositelylocated end pieces, hanger-bars fitted on the outer sides of said end pieces and provided intermediate of their ends with perforated guiding-lugs, guide-pulleys mounted on said end pieces above said guiding-lugs, pulleyhousings arranged on the hanger-box at one side of said pulleys, supporting-cables connected with the ends of said hanger-bars to support the hanger-box in a fixed position, switch mechanism arranged within the han ger-box and having line-wire-terminal connections therewith, a vertically-movable hangertable provided at opposite ends with hangerbrackets for suspending the electric lamp, tubular guide-rods projecting above thetable and iitted in the opposite ends of the latter, upright switch-plugs mounted on the hangertable and having lamp-wire-terminal connections therewith and coperating with said switch mechanism to open and close the circuit through the lamp, and adjusting-cables secured at one end in said tubular guide-rods, and passed through said guiding-,lugs of the hanger-bars, around the guide-pulleys and through the housings therefor, substantially as set forth.

2. In a hanger for electric lamps the combination of a fiXedly-supported hanger-box open at the bottom and provided within its opposite ends with opposite inner end pieces, hanger-bars fitted on the outer sides of said end pieces and provided with perforated ends projected `through the sides of the box and with intermediate perforated guiding-lugs, supporting-cables connected with the ends of said han ger-bars, switch mechanismarranged within the hanger-box and having line-wire terminals connected therewith, a verticallymovable hanger-table provided at opposite ends with han ger-brackets for suspending the lamp, upright tubular guide-rods fitted in opposite ends of the table and adapted to work through said guiding-eyes of the hanger-bars, upright switch-plu gs mounted on the hangertable and having lamp-wire-terminal connections therewith, said switch-plugs coperating with said switch mechanism to open and close the circuit through the lamp, and adjusting-cables secured at one end in said tubular guide-rods, substantially as set forth.

3. In a hanger for electric lamps, a fixedlysupported han ger-box having an open bottom, a switchboard arranged within said hangerboX, a pair of spaced verticallydisposed switch-plug receivers secured to one side of said switchboard and provided at a point intermediate of their ends with laterally-projected binding-posts extending through the switchboard, a switch-lever connection between said plu g-receivers, insulator-tubes fitted in opposite ends of the box and having their inner ends disposed directly at on'e side of the wire-receiving ends of said bindingposts, and a vertically-movable lamp-hanger table carrying a pair of switch-plugs having lamp wire terminal connections therewith and adapted to work in and out of said switchplug receivers to operate said switch-lever connection, substantially as set forth.

et. In a hanger for electric lamps, a fiXedlysupported han ger-box havin g an open bottom, a switchboard arranged within said box, a pair of spaced vertically-disposed switch-plug' receivers having line-wire-terminal connections therewith, and each essentially comprising a xed conductor-bar and a leaf-spring jaw arranged at one side of said conductorbar, the conductor-bar of one of said receivers being provided near its lower end with all IOO olf-.standing bracket-arm carrying a contactkeeper, and the conductor-bar of the other receiver ieing provided near its lower end with side pivot-lugs, a swinging switch-lever pivotaliy connected to said lugs and provided at connected to said adjusting-arm and a fixed point of attachment to provide for normally holding one end of Said switch-lever within said contact-keeper to close the circuit di`I rectly through the two plug-receivers, and a vertically-movable hanger-table carrying av nal connections therewith and adapted to work in and out of said plug-receivers, snbmy own l have hereto affixed my signature stantially as set forth.

5. In a hanger for electric lamps, a fixedlysupported hanger-box, a pair of spaced vertically-disposed switch-plug receivers supi ported within said boX and havin gline-wireterminal connections therewith, each of said receivers comprising a fixed conductor-bar having a eoncaved side, and an enlargement at its upper end, and a leaf-spring jaw disposed opposite the concaved side of the conductor-bar and secured at its upper end to the enlargement of the same a normallvelosed switch connection between the two plug-receivers, a vertically-movable lamp-hanger table, and a pair of spaced switch-plugs pro vided with lower binding-post ends secured in the table and projecting therebelow for connection with the lamp-wire terminals, said switch-plu gs being partly cylindrical and provided with iattened sides and beveled upper ends, the entrance of said plugs into said plugn receivers providing` for opening said switch connection between the two receivers7V substantially as set forth.

n testimony that I claim the foregoing as in the presence of two witnesses.

EDVARD l". SNOWDEN.

lVitnesses:

L. M. iiAnnrsTY, JAMES n. WILSON. 

